Watercress [Nasturtium officinale]

The watercress is a leafy vegetable and a perennial wild and medicinal plant that was consumed in ancient times. It is one of the 4 sacred plants of the Druids. Already in the 16th In the 19th century, the particular evergreen plant was grown on a large scale in Europe and was part of bourgeois cuisine as a vitamin-rich vegetable. The herb prefers to grow in moist locations with easy running water and in cleaner surface sources. Wild it is found sunny or semi-shaded on stream banks, in ponds and springs.
The taste of the succulent leaves is pleasantly peppery and slightly spicy, and can be cooked or eaten raw. The medicinal herb can lower fever, relieve inflammation of the gums and digestive problems and helps externally as a tincture against eczema.

General information
Plant family: Brassicaceae
Life Cycle: Perennial
Days to harvest: 8 0 days
Plant height approx.: 5 0 cm
Root Type: Flat Root-forming foothills
Nutrient requirements: Weak Zehrer
Water Requirements: High
Winter hardiness: Up to-10 °C
Location: Sunny to partially shaded
Floor: Survives permanently only in open water areas, in water pots or permanently damp mud beds

PH: 6 to 7.5

Sowing and planting information
Germ Type: Light germ
Seed Depth: 0 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 9-13 °C
Germination time: 7 -21 days
Planting, row spacing: 15 X20 cm

Optimal mixed culture: -
Unfavorable mixed culture: -

Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
We only recommend pre-cultivation from November in small water pots. Seedlings from December to March Put in water pots directly on a water surface.

Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
We only recommend pre-cultivation from August in small water pots. From August to September, plant seedlings in water pots directly on a water surface.

General
No-till sowing is unfavorable due to the possible floating away seeds, so only pre-cultivation in water pots with humus-like substrate makes sense. Plant watercress seedlings in water pots simply floating directly onto a clear, cool and clean water surface. In order to cultivate the plant permanently in the garden, it is necessary to apply it To place open water areas, in water pots or permanently damp mud beds.

Additional tips
It thrives best in shallow or flowing and slightly basic waters. As a rule, in pure pot culture, the plant is quite short-lived.

Type of propagation
Spread takes place via seeds and sharing the rootstock.

Care Plants
Fertilization is not absolutely necessary, but Compost considerably accelerates the growth of plants in the swamp bed. To promote the bushy growth, older shoots of watercress should be cut off every now and then.

Germination ability of seeds: 4-6 years

Other Names
Botanical names: Nasturtium officinale
English Names: Watercress
German names: Watercress, Watercress, Creek cress
Portuguese names: Agrião
Spanish Names: Berros de agua
French names: Cresson